Samsung did a phenomenal job with the design and hardware selection for this ultrabook. The outstanding form factor does not sacrifice performance whatsoever. I'm able to use resource intensive applications such as Adobe CS6 Master Suite with little to no hesitation. The ultrabook is by far the most attractive design but the frame does carry fingerprints.

It is a very nice looking, good performing laptop, with one problem. The touchpad does not work. Frankly, I have not seen a laptop, not even one that is a decade old, that has the same type of erratic touchpad problems as this one. Its erratic, it freezes, it feels like a someone who is drunk and it drives you, the user, absolutely crazy. You're forced to bring a extra mouse EVERYWHERE, fearing for the moment your touchpad calls it quite. Restart? Fixes it 50% of the time. This is the reason I can not recommend this laptop. Its a shame really, it looks quite nice. But its like a nice car with a bad steering wheel. Nice looking? Of course. Good car? Definitely not.

Do not purchase this product. The series 9 I received is so plagued with issues (trackpad errors, OS crashes, hard drive problems) that this is one of the worst ways you could invest your money. It certainly has good specs, though, and if it functioned properly I imagine it might be a contender for an average laptop.

The first review for this Series 9 model (A03) said it all in the title - Best Laptop on the Market. More and more, computer marketing is all about mass market appeal and has moved away from technical specs, but technical specs DO still matter, ESPECIALLY in ultrabooks, which thanks to improved Intel graphics in Ivy Bridge are right on the cusp of being able to play modern games (albeit at lower settings). Nobody cares about paying more for 10-15% extra performance on desktops anymore, but that can make a huge difference in an ultrabook if you suddenly get the urge to use it like a real computer, and is worth a premium IMO. And the specs on this Series 9 model A03 should ensure such a performance advantage over most other ultrabooks on the market. This model of the Series 9, the NP900X4C-A03US, simply has it all: * 256GB SSD (most models have either a hybrid SSD/HDD, or only 128GB SSD) * 8GB RAM (the number of ultrabooks on the market offering options with >4GB is woefully small). * Decent screen resolution of 1600x900 that's a nice fit for a 15" screen. * Core i7 CPU I think most people can grasp the benefits of the first 3 items (which are clearly significant and may be enough to pay extra for just the bigger SSD and RAM alone), but there are significant benefits of the i7-3517U processor that's offered in this model, over the i5-3317U that's offered in the lower-end A01 and A02 models (and most other ultrabooks). To wit: i5-3317U: 1.7 GHz base clock frequency 2.6 GHz max turbo clock frequency 3 MB cache 1050 MHZ max Gfx clock frequency i7-3517U: 1.9 GHz base clock frequency (12% faster) 3.0 GHz max turbo clock frequency (13% faster) 4 MB cache (33% bigger) 1150 MHz max Gfx clock frequency (10% faster) (Source: Anandtech) All of the above, combined with the 8GB RAM, should result in an across-the-board 10-15% performance increase in both processor-intensive apps, as well as graphical-intensive apps (ie, games). And this is all done within the same 17W power envelope, with the same excellent battery life and no battery penalty from using an external graphics chip. I'm afraid I can't offer any benchmark comparisons as proof (I only bought one computer after all), but I can tell you that there are many reports of Diablo 3 barely being able to run on Intel HD4000 graphics, especially in later acts with lots of background action going on. But I can report that D3 runs great and smooth on this system in both Acts 3 and 4, with medium textures, low shadows, and high physics in the native 1600x900 resolution. (As a sidebar, I should also mention the good news that my model came with a Samsung SSD, and not the slower SanDisk SSD that was in the 128GB model that I looked at in a retail store. No guarantees if this will always be the case, though). I'm not going to go into usability aspects, other than to say that our family is very satisfied with the screen, keyboard, trackpad, build, etc. It's a sweet machine. Honestly, if you're concerned about those kinds of things, you'll likely go see and feel a Series 9 model for yourself at a local retail store (any 15" Ivy Bridge model will suffice for evaluating this aspect, of course). That's what we did, we liked it, and we are liking it more every day as we continue using it after about a week. The downside to this model is that nobody is selling it, and even Amazon lists a 3-5 week wait for shipment. Fortunately, Amazon appears to be under-promising here, as ours shipped in about 1.5 weeks, and arrived a little over 2 weeks after we ordered it. Bottom line: Don't let the extra money or the extra wait scare you away from the A03 model. This laptop is going to be the workhorse in our household that does everything, from general productivity to homework to surfing to on-the-move mobility to moderate gaming, and on and on. If you're looking to make a similar investment, go for the best and get this laptop.

Just wish it didn't run windows 8, not a big fan of all the tiles and Microsoft for that matter. But i'm betting it would run real good with a linux software. I'm actually in the market to find another computer for the girlfriend.

Thanks to it's internal Solid State drive this machine boots Windows 7 nearly instantly and runs blindingly fast. It also has a very solid shell and great battery life! I love my Samsung Series 9 laptop!

This is a snappy laptop, handling all the computing needs I have. It is not a gaming rig by any means, but it can handle most games at the medium settings. It is super thin, close to 1/2" and it is just as sleek if not more so than any laptop I've ever seen. It is great, I would suggest it to any and all that are considering an ultra-book.

This is definitely one of the best products Samsung has to offer its fast light weight and so convenient the display is clean and clear with barely any strain on the eyes this is great for people on the go because its half the weight of other laptops and starts up so fast if your in the market for a new latop this should be your first choice

The specs are great. I'm a software engineer and have been using Linux on this laptop for 3 months. Linux support is coming along, I found that most established Linux distributions had issues so I made my own mix with Gentoo. Out of simple distributions - Linux Mint Debian Edition won't do you wrong. I like the laptop, but I do have a list of cons: I love the non-glossy screen, but it does seem to give eye fatigue. Keyboard keys are spaced out much further than older laptop keys - mistyping a lot. It would be nice of the arrow keys were a full inverse-T. The hinge for the screen/lid gives plenty of friction when almost closed, but not enough when greater than 90 degrees open. I have worries about the power port being fragile. IMHO it should come with a HDMI and DVI cable.

This COULD be a great product but the Elan touchpad is horrible. I can't use a mouse so I have to rely 100% on the touchpad. Samsungs driver has no sensitivity adjustment. Even the help screens don't reflect the actual screens you will see. The only way I have found to use it so far is to turn off most of the features of the touchpad including the touch feature. Yes, I mean you can only use it for extended periods of time if you dumb it down to the point where it is no different than any other 2 button touchpad. And even at that the buttons are hard to push. Samsung could fix this by giving us a better driver but I've never seen them be responsive when it comes to software. It is really unfortunate. I would be happy to work with anyone at Samsung so that they can get this right if they are willing.

Not Much 3rd Party Bloatware, Industry Standard Battery Life, Lightweight, Larg Display In A Small Package, Realistic Color, Runs Very Cool And Quiet, Fast, Bright Display

Cons:

Power Supply Jack My Not Be Robust, Small Hdd Size Void Warranty If Upgraded, Lack Of Cables, Some 3rd Party Bloatware Installed

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

A little history I am an IT professional with many, many years of experience and I normally build my own desktops from parts. I also have several handfuls of computer certifications involving PC hardware, Software and System Administration, so overall I feel that I know something about computers. Samsung has never been on my radar for PC hardware until a co-worker who I respect greatly walked into the office with his Galaxy 9. I was immediately impressed with the build quality and sleek design for a PC. While I was not nessicarily in the market for a new laptop after playing with the 9 for a couple minutes and comparing my reseach with my co-workers I convinced my self I need something new as my current home laptop is rather old and has seen many winters as kitty cat buttocks warmer. The 9 is fast and well built. This is critical for me as this box is going to get abused at my house as a couch surfer, kitty cat warmer, homework computer, and backpack travel buddy. If your reading other reviews please make sure the v2 Series 9 also called the new model is the review target. There have been many slight but important upgrades between the two. If youre doing a hands-on test in a big box store the word new is visible in the hinge area to the top left of the keyboard. The 9 ROCKS! But there are three major items keeping me from rating this product as perfect the last two are easy fixs for Samsung. 1. Power Input: This power jack while almost identical to the competition in the ultra book category looks drastically under built and may be easily broken or bent. I dont know if this is part of the Intel reference design or not but for me this is a major concern. 2.Cables: Lack of included cables for connecting the mini-ports to true ports. This is a premium product and @ this price point include the gosh darn cables. 3.HDD: The included SDD is small 128gb and the uplift price to 256Gb is not reasonable. I could buy an entirely new drive for that and was planning to. Sadly Samsungs web site state you invalidate the warranty if you replace the drive. The sleep and restore speeds could have seen improvements by adding their own premium hardware vs a lower priced commodity part. I would have gladly traded the nice graphically designed packaging materials (black box) for a lager HHD or usable cables. Why include such a nice box if the purchaser can't even see it until they get the white shipping box (ugly) home? Once last comment, even under high load running benchmarks the chasse was very quiet and quite reasonably cool, so no roasted chestnut this winter. The kitty cats however said they wanted to keep the old laptop :-)

I spent months and month waiting for an ultrabook that would meet all my requirements and in the end purchased the Samsung Series 9 (which is NOT officially an ultrabook) because I believe it delivers on the promise better than the officially-labeled choices. Took this on a one week, 2 city trip within days of getting it. Also took my iPad. Never opened the iPad. Used the Series 9 to work on the plane and watch movies. Till the iPad has Office, it may be staying home. Pros: -degrees Start-up in seconds. That means that all those times you think you'd like to open up your PC to work for a few minutes or even check something but don't because its not worth the hassle, you DO. I did productive work in the back of a cab in busy metro traffic. -degrees Light-weight. -degrees 15" screen (hard to find in sub-3 pounds) -degrees HDMI connectors for Ethernet and VGA (yes you have to buy the latter, but it worked like a charm at a client location - no drama). If you travel for business, the Ethernet is a must - you just can't depend on hotels having WiFi Cons -degrees The keyboard. It's mushy. -degrees I wish there was a 512 SSD. The 256 will be limiting over time. -degrees It is expensive. No more than a MacBook for comparable specs, but still expensive. Why didn't I just buy a Macbook? I did. And returned it without opening the box when I realized Office for Mac doesn't accommodate Outlook PST files. a deal breaker for me. And with the Series 9, no re-learning, no mirrored partitions, no historical file comparability/formatting issues. Is it perfect? No. Is it a great choice to make based on what's out there? Absolutely. 5 Star.

The build quality and slimness is evident from unboxing on. It is sturdy and has a good feel, but is almost surreally thin and light. Beautiful screen with very decent outdoor viewing and vertical viewing angle (roughly 45 degrees of perfect view, another 45 of acceptable viewing, and 180 degrees of legibility)). Excellent battery life, (I've been using it for about 3 hours this session and i'm sitting at 70% remaining. So roughly the 10 hours advertised). The boot speed is faster than advertised (clocked the boot at 6.7 seconds), and it is literally instantly on from sleep. The CPU centric speed is more than fast enough for basic computing tasks, mathematica, and photoshop), and it can handle a little light gaming (League of Legends).

This thing is amazing!!!. Between the Fastboot, the stylish exterior and the overall build quality there is nothing not to love. Performance shouldnt even be questioned about this thing. It will blow most desktops out of the water. I have always been fan of Samsung products and this Laptop just gives me another reason to continue. Only thing i am a little sad on is the charger of the system. I really just wish they can get a better charging system on these things. But man am i satisfied, If you dont have one get it now!!!

I was in the market for a laptop for development with criteria of higher resolution than the 1366 displays, > 4GB of memory, an SSD and a reasonable processor. I ultimately honed in on the Samsung as the best meld of features and while I fretted about it, I purchased it online sight unseen. Once received, I was impressed by its build quality. It's quite durable and light for is 15" size. Once I had things running, my few complaints are that the trackpad is overly sensitive and not worth using if you can help it. I regularly disable it when I can attach an external mouse. Also, the bloatware for initial install is a bit annoying. I'm not a fan of the recovery partition mechanism they use, so I ended up re-installing from scratch and getting a bit more space and a cleaner install. All in all, I'm very pleased with the purchase. One last reason that I chose it over competitors is the possibility of self-service. I do understand that it would void warranty to upgrade memory or the ssd myself, but in the future to allow for the upgrade post warranty is a great bit. I'd say only the lack of a serviceable battery would be the downside, but that's understandable to get the laptop to the packaging that it is in the first place.

It should be quick and my old laptop is faster processing multiple applications. Don't understand why as on paper it appears great. Looks great though and is very light and portable but cannot compete with the airbook...

This was quite a change for me. I'm coming from a Macbook Pro, yet I extremely pleased with this UltraBook. Upon turning on the computer for the first time, I had only around 50GB. This seems to be the only complaint i have. If Samsung would have an option to increase to a 256GB SSD then it would be the best. It feels very premium and very lightweight as expected. Overall very pleased with it.

Such an amazing laptop! This is my first samsung laptop, but owning both a smartphone and tablet (which I also love) by them I had to cross shop. Blew away my expectations and the competition. Very premium feel, 100% satisfied. Samsung has earned my loyalty, and I'm sure if given the chance they will earn yours.

After 6 months of consideration in purchasing a new laptop, when I saw the new Samsung thin with a solid state drive I had to take a look at it. It was love at first site, so I purchased it on the spot. I got it home, it set up with ease and I am enjoying it everyday. A great choice and an awesome machine.

Product works well and is light and easy for travel. BUT, there is no availability to the VGA output dongle - which is a proprietary item only from Samsung. I have looked everywhere without success. If this part ever becomes available - which will allow me to use multiple screens on my desk, I would increase the rating. The micro HDMI dongle that comes with the unit works - but the resolution does not fit external monitors correctly. major portions of the screen are outside of the display area, making this basically unusable.

This laptop has some great features. It has some drawbacks as well, but, overall, it is a great purchase. I was able to compare this laptop with others in its class from other manufacturers in store, and I am pleased to say that this laptop has a more solid feel and design. The screen is great; almost edge to edge, The keyboard has a great feel considering the thickness of the laptop; a true surprise. Out of the box, the laptop has very little "junk" pre-installed. Most third party applications already installed would be used by most advanced users anyways. The on board RAM is phenomenal, and the i5 processor is fitting. The laptop boots in seconds! The laptop comes with a LAN dongle, but not an HDMI, VGA, or DVI dongle. An added expense most will likely need to incur. The location of the micro-HDMI port is a problem due to its proximity to the LAN port. Some micro-HDMI adapters won't work with the LAN dongle in place. The silkpad is massive! It is very different that what I am used to. It will take some getting used to since it is "smart" per-se, and will assume some gestures. The laptop does not come with a case or sleeve, so that should be considered as well. This laptop is a nice purchase. It is my first ultra-thin purchase and will travel well. I wish it would have come with an HDMI dongle, but I will make due.

With a new power skimping Ivy Bridge processor, and a sleak design there is very little to complain about. Two issues not enough SSD options, the standard 128GN SSD is 1/2 full on arrival, loading MS Office Pro, and the recovery disk left me with only 52 GB left. The Network port requires an adaptor, otherwise this guy is the Bomb!

I have only had the New Series 9 15" for a few days, but so far I am relatively impressed with the design. I only wish I had gotten one with a larger capacity SSD. I thought the price was comparatively steep for a Samsung. But the quality seems to descent. Price a little steep!